The Falls City tribune. (Falls City, Neb.) 1904-191?, January 14, 1910, Image 7
The Year in G. A. R. Circles Address of Commander Cleaver at the Installation of Officers of G. A R and W. R. C . at G. A. R. Hall, Thursday Evening .1910 Installation of officers was the program at the C.. A. R. hall Thurs day night, an event of considerable importance among the members of that order, and the W. R, C. At six o'clock "the boys” and the members of the \V. R. O., and the Invited guests, gathered around the banquet table and enjoyed a feast,— a feast that in a measure helped to atone for "short rations" of the long ago war time. The meeting proper was called to order by l)r. .1. C. Yutzy, he using a gavel made of wood that grew upon the height.hs of Lookout Mountain, and which was presented to the \V. R. (\ by Mrs. Adeline Korner. It will be seen by Commander j Cleaver's address that the order is; in a prosperous condition, and that the Post of Falls City is no "awkward squad" when it comes to executive ab'lity and ardor in the up holding of that order. The address of Commander Cleaver Is interesting, not alone to the mem bers, but to the public in general, for as time flits by, and the ranks grow thinner, we are prone to speak of the organization as our Grand Army Post. Following is Commander Cleaver’s address: •lust one year ago when asked to accept tile eommandership of the Post, and assume its duties and res ponsibilities, it seemed to me like a all to duty, as 1 must confess I had been more than negligent of my res ponsibilities to the Post and its mem bers. This presented an opportuni ty to redeem myself. The Grand Army of the Republic is one of the most honored, if not the most honored and respected organiza tion of men in this country, and to serve as commander of a Post, es pecially in a city of this size should by any one be considered not only a privilege lmt. an honor, and it is still a greater honor to be re-elected to such a position, as the second elec tion is an expression of satisfaction and approval by the members of the manner in which the office lias been filled during lhe first term, and an assurance that a continuance of the same management is considered for the best inteiosts of the Post. 1 thank my comrades for this unsought honor and also thank them for the hearty and earnest support with which they have aided in building up our membership and placing our Post in such a prosperous condition; for I fully believe we are now in as good working order as any other Post in this state. Iii 1889 there were twenty mem bers paying their dues, while there was a large suspended list. In 1900 there were 22 members paying their dues; in 1901 there wore 2fi; in 1902, tnero were 25; In 1905, there were 27; in 1901, then' were 25; in 1905 there were 35; in 1900, there were IS; in 1907 there were 22. The year 1909' began with 31 mem bers and end' d with 50 members in good standing all paying tlioir dues, and feeling proud of the order and the progress we have made during the year. The beginning of 1909 showed 21 on the suspended list, while tonight there are but 9 on thisj list. To recapitulate, we started the! year just passed with 31 members; during the v 'ir we have mustered in 2, and have received by transfer t, and taken from the suspended list 12. a total of 52 members. During the year we lost by death 2, so that to night we have a total membership ot 50. There are still 9 members on the suspended list, and S old soldiers of the Civil war who have not joined our order, who are not doing their duty to us. They should bear in mind that this organization is ail exclusive one, only soldiers of the Civil war being eligible to membership. It is im possible for us to recruit our ranks except from their numbers, and the life of our organization depends on every old soldier doing his duty by assisting in maintaining the Post in good working order as long as pos sible. It is sincerely to be hoped they will realize that they owe this much to our Post and its members, for our order lias stood boldly forth as the champion of all the laws that Congress has passed for the benefit and honor of the soldiers of the Civil j war. Perhaps they do not realize it. but nevertheless they have been the, recipients of these benefits and honor without in any way aiding In secur ing them. We have continually as sisted them in this respect and we ask that from now on they assist us by joining th ■ Post. One year a"o the Quartermaster had on hands 91c, while there were unpaid bills rgainst the Post to the amount of $19.45. Tonight the Quartermaster has in his hands $.">,70. All the unpaid hills from last year have been paid, and we are out of debt. This is a contrast of which we can all be proud. i Hon. L. 1). Richards Commander of our state department, in referring to this in his letter of December 29, 1909, states, "1 wish to congratulate you on the splendid work that lias been done in your Post. An increase of 19 members, will I feel assured, not be exceeded by any other Post in the Department. Please convey to the comrades and membrs of the Relief Corps my kindest greetings.” Assistant Adjutant General, A. M. Trimble of the Department, writes to us as follows: "Your report for the term ending December 21, 1909 received. Also your quartermaster’s check for $8.00 to cover your per capita tax for the term on fifty mem bers in good standing. We thank you for these reports and extend to you our hearty congratulations on your increase in membership. You have demonstrated to this depart ment what harmonious G. A. R. work will do, hacked by a strong Relief Corps to help." In order to keep up our organiza tion in good standing in the state department, and preserve our charter, it is necessary for us to send to the Department Quartermaster each year 32 cents per member. When the an nual dues were $2.00 per year, this was not a hardship,but now when the dues are only $1.00 per year, this per-capita tax as it is called, requires 32 cents out of each dollar that we received for dues, and it reduces our revenue so that we do riot have suf ficient to run the Post without pass ing around the hat several times dur ing the year. We do not want to raise the dues to more than $1.00, as we think many of our comrades would find it more than they could spare for this purpose, but we do need a little more revenue, and in or der to secure this,the Post at its last meeting passed a resolution request ing those members who were able to add 32 cents to their annual dubs. 1 wish the comrades to remember this is to be entirely voluntary, but sufficient members ought to pay this additional 32 cents to realize $12.00 or $13.00 more for the quartermaster. Ilerefoforc the Relief Corps lias paid tin* lions share of ttie expenses of the two orders, In cause so few (I. A. It ’s paid their dues, but tonight we can hold up our heads and feel some pride that during the past year we have done better, and that from now on we will he abb and willing to pay our share of ill the expenses. During the past year we observed Memorial Sunday. Decora,tion Day and Soldiers Day at the Chautauqua in a creditable manner. On Memorial Sunday, the Christian Church was tastefully d< coratrd with flags and the national colors; special music was rendered liy the choir, and the oration by Rev. Day, was a soul stirring, patriotic address that recall ed to us memories of those old days when we were on southern battle fields, and we felt proud to be thus specially honored for the part we took in that memorable war. The march up Stone street laden with baskets of flowers on Decora tion Day was an impressive sight,and many were the compliments paid us for our numbers and good appear ances, it being frequently remarked that, we were a fine looking body of elderly melt.” When we entered the cemetery we found large concourse of our citizens there assembled to as sist. us In honoring our dead. The musical program furnished by j the Methodist choir, assisted by the members of the High School Band wa a genuine musical treat, seldom equal led on such occasions, and the ora tion delivered by Judge Davidson of Teeumseh, was pronounced by some | of our best educated citizens as a masterpiece of historical research and oratory. An enthusiastic citizen in expressing his gratification to me, remarked, "We had done ourselves proud.” And such a delightful time we had enjoyed the sumptuous din ner provided for us by the Relief Corps. It was a day to be long re-1 membered for the good comradeship I and general fine feeling experienced by all. On Hobson Day we gathered in full force, 50 strong, and we made a lasting impression on the distingu ished orator by the reception we gave him. He .-tated we had paid him one of the finest compliments he had received on the Chautauqua platform. On several occasions we have as sembled in this ball to partake of the bounty and enjoy the hospitality of the Relief Corps. These occasions have been especially enjoyable, and 1 know that T express the sentiment of every comrade in extending to the ladies our heartfelt thanks and most grateful appreciation for ail' they have done in providing for our entertainment. Our cup of happiness would be run ning over this night, were it not that we have been sorrowfully railed upon to lay away to their final rest some of our beloved comrades. Early in the year we gathered in this hall to pay our last tribute of respect to comrade Hutchings, then from the Methodist Church we buried Oonv rade McDowell and then again from this hall Comrades Berry and Ply.bon. Verily time dealt gently with these comrades, for they were gathered to their fathers in the fullness of old age, after living useful and honorable lives, leaving behind them a heritage of good deeds with many comrades and friends to mourn for them. As a class we are enjoying fairly good health, when we consider our age, and but few of us have been more than temporarily indisposed during the past year. Comrade Kroker had the misfortune to fall from a tree last spring. His injuries were at first thought to be serious, hut luckily he has nearly recovered his usuei health. Comrade Fisher, after enjoying a brief honeymoon fell from a roof lasf fall, breaking his hip and sus taining other injuries of a serious nature. Through this trying ordeal lie has maintained his usual good spirits and is now on a fair way to iccovery. Comrade Whitaker was taken very sick at the last meeting of our Post, his illness being of such a nature that t was necessary to per form an operation. He is on the road to recovery. We extend to him o.ir fullest sympathy, and wish lie could be with us tonight. There being a vast storehouse of interesting personal reminiscences of the war in the memory of each old soldier, that has been waiting for some one to gather and arrange in historic al order, so that it be pre served for the use of our relatlve. and friends after w< have passed away, therefore lately I have been sketching this experience ot our members, so far having written up the war experience of Comrades Cline, Davis, Hill, Jos. Jones, (’ass Jones, Kelsey, Kreker, Mellon. Mos sier, McCormick, Nausler, Oswald. Plybon, Whittaker and Wilson. A few of them have been read at Post meetings, and'that of Comrade Hill lias been published in the paper. lSvery soldier who lias served in the Civil war lias a wealth of inter esting war experiences that is con sidered by ttiis younger generation a treat to read; as the individual ex perience of the private soldier gives a much clearer insight into the every day life of a soldier and of war than can be gathered in history. These really tell us what war is, and will assist in maintaining that respect and admiration for the old soldier that we all esteem and prize. An entire new generation lias followed the scenes and incidents of the war. and we owe it to this new generation that these personal mem ories be preserved, as they will tie especially prized by our relatives and friends after we have passed away. I hope this year to write up the ex perience of other comrades. As soon as I have time I will typewrite those already written, and present to each comrade his, so that lie and his fam ily can always have them. My work in connection with the Post during the past year has been very agreeable and pleasdnt. This In a great measure has been promoted by the hearty manner in which all comrades have seconded and assisted! in carrying to ward my suggestions for the welfare of the Post, and I feel ' that we have all been amply rewarded j by the results secured and the enjoy ment and profit we have derived therefrom. We now enter the new year under far limn' encouraging prospects than j we began the ’ast year. Our member j ship is good, our nuances suiiicieni and there is the best of harmony and i good fellowship between us all, so that the end of this year should find us in even better trim than we1 are tonight. living a hand of comrades bound together by the sacred memories of the past, and personal friendships, let us spend our remaining days so as to secure the fullest measure of just lives made perfect, with the assur ance that the community will res pect us for what we are as well as for what we were in our youth. 6 paper. Plug hard, reg ularly, s y stem at ic all v. Play up the best goods you sell at the right price in this paper. (<>>pyri*tit, I HUM, by W. N. I .) ANNUITY GIVEN TO WIDOWS Origin of Long-Time Custom In Mas* sachusetts Village Is Lost in Antiquity. One hundred of the largest and most tender herrings is the annuity offer to all the widows residing with in the confines of a town of Pembroke, a small Massachusetts village. It is a time-honored custom, and Its origin is beyond recall of the oldest inhabit ant's memory. The weirs are town property. John l.e Fargo is in charge j of the fishing, and he sees to it that ‘ every householder gets all the herring lie is entitled to, always remembering that no widow is overlooked on the extra too Each male resident of the town is allowed to come to the weirs and catch 200 herrings, for which lie pays 50 cents. But any of the widows of the town may lave their 200 fish at that rate and in addition 100 fish aro given to them free, according to the old custom. Lively scenes are enacted as the residents rush to the brook where the fishing is done. Oftentimes ns ninny as 25 or 30 are waiting their turn. The brook bears the name of Bar ker stream, after a family which set tled there in the early part of the seventeenth century, within a stone’s throw of the weirs. Barker stream, or brook, as it lias been called in later years, flows into the North river al Marshfield boundary, but (lie place where the old homestead used to stand is the only one in Its entire length where fishing is permitted. From 40,000 to 00.000 herring aro taken from (lie brook every year, but tlie only fish sold of this number are the ones left by the householders who do not care lo lake their share. These are sold to merchants, the revenue going to the town treasury. It Had a Familiar Sound. Abraham Schiff, who was arrested with several friends In Newark for gambling, was arraigned before Judge Herr in ihe Second criminal court In that city recently and made the plea that they were merely playing a Rus sian game called "one thousand.” "Explain ihe game,” said Judge Herr. "Well, your honor," said Schiff, "you match cards together. If you get two threes, why that counts more than if you only got two twos. Then you say that you think the threes are pretty good, and put a chip down so as to remember what you said. Then if you if you can find some more threes, or match up another pair, why, then your hand is so much better." "The game sounds familiar,” mused Judge Herr. "Suppose you get a hand that consisted only of diamonds— would that be a good hand?” "Very good, your honor.” "Now, suppose in your hand the cards yere all of one suit, and ran from tile ace to the ton spot. Would that be better?” "Oh, your honor, it would he lovely," exclaimed Schiff, rubbing his hands joyfully. "And I suppose you’d have to put up a lot of chips to remember what a 1 good hand you had. I’ve heard of the game. Tie- Russians call it jakpoto vitch. Fifty dollars tine, and don’t play any more poker.”—New York Times. Diamond Cut Diamond. In the Hoffman house, New York, a group of politicians were discussing the death of Patrick II. McCarren. "McCarren,” said a lawyer, "knew how to handle men. Jle met straight forward mop with straightforward methods, and tricky men he bested j with wilier tricks than their own. "Once he illustrated his policy* to ( me with a story. He was like, he said, i the rich Peter Higgins. "When Peter was young and gay, ! two of his friends, being hard up, put up a game on him. “ Peter,’ they said, ‘you might pay 11s that two dollars we lent you.’ " When did yon lend me two dol lars?’ said Peter, haughtily. “‘Why. night before last, when you wore drunk,’ was the reply. “ 'Oh, yes,’ said Peter; ‘I remember now. Hut, hang it, l paid you back.’ Paid us back? When?' "’Last night, when you were drunk, j i km i you i eineinbei ?' ” Yes, But VVhat Was the Lady’s Age? Toward the close of a recent law- ] suit in Massachusetts, (lie wife of an 1 eminent Harvard professor arose and with a flaming face timidly addressed the court. “Your honor,” said she, “If I had told you I had made an error in my testimony, would it vitiate all 1 have said?" Instantly the lawyers for each «side stirred themselves in excitement, while his honor gravely regarded her. “Well, madam," said the court, after a pause, “that depends entirely on the nature of your error. What was it, please?” “Why, you see," answered the lady, more and more red and embarrassed, “1 told the clerk I was 38. 1 was so flustered, you know, that when he asked my age 1 inadvertently gave him my bust measurement.”—Every body’s Magazine. ---- - Self-Possession. Mr. Kajones, who had happened to step into the parlor while looking for a book, was just in time to see some body slip hastily off somebody else’s knee. "Ah, Bessie," he observed, pleasant ly, this is a merger, isn’t it? Or is it a limited partnership?" "Neither, papa," said Bessie, recov ering herself instantly; “George is my holding company—that's all." LIKE UNTO THE DAYS Of OLD La Camargue Alone in France Pre serves the Ancient and Honorable Sport of Falconry. I.a Camargue scorns commonplace diversions. Ln Camargue alone, in this latter-day France of ours, pro vides tire great and entrancing spec tacle of hawking. Falcon on wrist, tin' southern sportsmen come to the Rhone della to indulge in the aristo cratic pastime of faleony, which is the princely relaxation of Arabia, j India and the Kirghiz Steppes, the noblest sport of old France, the royal sport above all others. One cannot meet a hawking party in the Camargue plain without having Irresistibly brought to mind a vision of the days of old. Itehlnd the varlets urging on the greyhounds, the howl- I lug, barking pack, the whole court fol- j lows the flight of the falcon pursuing the kite in the clouds above; a gallant chase, If ever there was, In which (lie, ladies on their palfreys, clad In velvet j gowns and feathered lints, worn Guel- j plite fashion, canter ln the front rank, with their ('oats looped up above the j knee and boots of embroidered leather, vigorously spurring tin* horse. It was for them, always for them, that each j vied with I he oilier in the skill and I elegance wherewith he threw the fal con, recalled him after his victory and placed him gracefully upon Ills mis [ tress’ gloved wrist. I.a Camargue is one great heronry; | and, to a falconer, nothing in the world conies up to "flying a heron." j lie is the finest bird of all to hunt, j Tlie pink flamingo letH himself be tiled j without uttering a com plain t. hardly i more than a sad little cry, as Ihougli to beg for mercy; a few drops of pnie red blood and all Is over lie dies gently and easily. With the heron the gam# is more evenly matched; lie Is a line, strong bird, a formidable nml very crafty enemy. The falcon shoots up like an arrow in pursuit. The gray bird tries to disappear, but bis enemy, who is struggling to sour | above him in order to swoop down ! ii|ion him, runs him close, harasses him. compels him In pass the clouds. The tragedy is consummated at a giddy height. Andre Custuigne, in 11 arper’s. Just to Annoy. “ill I.inly Cardigan' s new volume of memoirs,’’ said a Chicago publisher, “(he virtue of one of the artlstocrntle rollemaeho ladles is assailed. The lady herself has long been dead, but all her descendants, to the third and fourth generation, are writing to the papers, denying the truth of Lady Cardigan's attack. “It ail goes to show how sensitive we are about, the virtue of our ances tors. This was understood by a Chi i ago pro-suffragist who wrote to the papers the other day: “‘Senator Blank's shameful attacks on (lie motives of the militant suffra gettes must cease. Before' Senator Blank traduces those pure-minded ladies he had belter look after ills thieving, drunken old mother.’ "A friend to whom Hits letter was shown said to the pro-suffragist: “That is all very trenchantly put. It's libelous of course. i suppose you're quite sure of your ground?' ‘“Sure of my ground?’ said the pro suffragist. impatiently. '1 never heard n word against the old lady. All I know Is. if Senator Blank lias the common feelings of a gentleman he'll 1)4’ very much annoyed.’ ” “Bobs" and the Boy. An interesting incident is recorded in connection with tli«* visit which Lord Roberts paid to Marylebone to distribute the medals won by mem bers of the local rilie club, recently. One of rlie gold meduls was won by a lad la competitor in the Juvenile sec tion). who belonged to very poor par ents. Thinking that ids clothes were too shabby to appear before the fleid inandutl. he hud broken into a neigh bor’s house and stolen money for a suit of clothes. He was detected, brought before the Marylebone magis trate. and let off under the lirst of fi nders act (When the matter was brought to Lord Roberts' notice he called for the lad, took him aside, and gave him* some words of advice, teii ing him that it was character and not clothing that mattered. I lie hoy got his modal.—London Mail. How Welsh Worhen Carry Babies. The quaint old Welsh way in which Swansea women curry their babies, attracts every one's notice when vis iting that town for the first time. A idg shawl over the right shoulder is drawn down to tic left hip, where the two (rids of the shawl are met am held together, forming a sort of pouch or pocket, in which the baby snuggles cosily and safely. Its weight is s4) suported by the hip and distributed by the shawl over the whole uper part of the body that there is no strain at all nor any tiring of the arms. This probably accounts for tin* upright carriage of the Welsh mother Moreover, the method is com fortable for tic child and so safe that in Swansea small boys swathed in their mothers’ shawl ar4' seen carrying the family’s latest baby. A Father’s Relationship, A New York business man has a small daughter who is extremely fond of her mother. She likes her father well enough, but does not go into rap tures over him. A caller at the house, knowing the situation, asked the child why she didn't love her father as she did her mother. "Oh, you see," she chained very evidently to tier own satisfaction, ‘•papa is only related to us by mar- 1 riage.” . A NATIONAL 1 AULT AMERICAN SUBMISSION TO OF FICIAL INSOLENCE. Citizen Is Too Prone to Stand with Hat in Hand Before His Hired Man—Some Plain Talk Necessary. The Scot who boaided a British warship and sent word to its captain that "one of file owners" wished t* see him asserted a fact which few of us have the backbone to stand up to; that the humble masses own the earth by right of having paid for it with their more or less hard earned motl ey. it would seem ns if we, the pro prietors of the ever glorious republb are especially meek In regarding our "hired men,” from the president down, as our masters rather than our paid servants, Frank M. Blcknell says in Hipplnoott's We nfcivv ourselves to lx- browbeaten by public and quasi public officials to tin extent that amazes the foreigner. A titled Eng lishman recently wasted much temper in learning that an American rail way conductor Is allowed to lie almost ns autocratic as the captain of an ocean liner. Among the few "strang ers In our midst” who have really suc ceeded in silencing a toplofty parlor car conductor is .Max O’Kctl, and tli-i did it by bursting out with a throat to pitch him through the window, about die opening of which they dis agreed. It is not the highly placed officials, however, but the petty jacks in office who tire the most bumptious; their belief in their own Importance appears to be in direct proportion to their spe oiile levity. A smart young clerk in » certain suburban City hall once tried to snub and make needless trouble for a quiet, shabby, elderly man who had requested an item of information at bis counter. To the .young fellow's discomfiture, the old gentleman revolt ed so far as In free bis mind as fol lo\s*s: "My friend, let me ask il I am in your service or you in mine. I'd al ways supposed my lax motley helped you and these other < imps here to work for the city to the best of your ability. And ns I'm a citizen of tin eily ..in- of your bosses, and I oh ject In being treated as if I was n • better than dirt; besides which, oti your own account, you want to be i little mite civil, or some day you’ll bo hunting another Job If never struck you in just that light before, maybe, but it’s so all the same A little plain talk of Ibis sort, con veying a wholesome lesson, is needed much oftener than it Is given. Most of us submit to domineering rather than make a fuss, being surprised, in deed, If. we don't get il. If the police man on the corner, when we ask him a direction, responds with anything better than patronizing condescension, we are absurdly grateful We ap proach the box office of a theater, or even the desk of a hotel, as suppll cants, ready to cringe- at (lie expected rudeness or rebuff. In the trolley ears, of (be large cities at least, we avoid personal intercourse with the nien in charge, and look for only the curtest replies if need forces us to interrogate them. However, there Is something to b said on the other side, and if we do feel moved on occasion to put one of these high and haughty otiicials in hl> proper place, let us do ii good-tern peredly, not forgetting the hint given by a certain street ear company in its printed notice to the effect that while courtesy is to he desired from the conductor, its practice Is not unbe coming in Hie pass- nger. Hatful of Gold to Build a Church. One of the most remote churches In Great Britain was reopened after res (oration recently by the archdeacon of Brecon. II stands t I’.irt i ishow by name) on the southern slopes of the Black mountains in Breconshire. The* font dates from and"" a rood screen of singular beauty from about the year 1500. There are three stone altars within the old church and a little western chapel built against it, while in the churchyard stands a prefiching cross, and Hie remains of a stone ledge or bench run along the south wall of the church, on which tin* congregation could seat themselves Out of the stem of an ancient yew tree grows a rowan and a holly lice Tradition says Ihe church was otic iuaily built by a foreigner who was cured of leprosy by the waters of ar. adjacent well and who left "a hatful of gold” to build a church as a thank offering. Church Family Newspaper. Jes' Up and Died. An Atlanta man tells of a meeting at a railway station there of two dark ies who were exchanging gossip touch ing the doings of their respective neighborhods. "I s'pose you knows dat young Mis tali Smiggs is dead?” asked one. “No, 1 ain't heerd nothin’ 'bout it.” said the other, “l’s cert’n'y surprised! llow'd he die?” “I ain't jes; certain what his com plaint was," explained the first negro, "hut it was sumthin’ sudden like heart disease. He jes’ up an' died.” ' Well, 1 ain't so surprised bout dat, ' said the second darkey. "He was bound to go off sudden-like. Why, dar nigger was de most impulsive man I ever seen!” Consanguinity. Willie—The Smiths are a kind of re lation of ours. Our dog is their dog’s brother.—The United Presbyterian.